Artists to watch out for

The third edition of the India Art Summit has kicked off with what is undoubtedly a big bang. The Summit is appealing not only the art connoisseurs, but also the layman. Here's a brief list of artists to watch out for...

The third edition of the India Art Summit has kicked off with what is undoubtedly a big bang. "The Summit is appealing not only the art connoisseurs, but also the layman. This time, new forms, such as audio-visual installations and 3D art have been introduced, which I believe, will attract more people," says collector and artist Nisha Jamwal.

"The excitement is palpable. There are some serious art investors too," says Aparajita Jain of Seven Art Gallery. "For us to have spent a small fortune in coming here and setting up this display is testament to how great a business opportunity the summit is," says Peter Femfert of Germany's Die Galerie, who's displaying the works of Pablo Picasso and Andre Masson. Eventually, it's all about art. After we visited the summit, we zeroed in on four artists across various mediums, who surely are worth a visit.

Who: Gigi Scaria at Chemould GalleryWhy: His work focusses on architecture and highlights how urbanisation tends to go hand-in-hand with social upheaval. The issue of being an outsider and not belonging resonates strongly in his pieces. And over the last few years, his popularity has only soared. At present, his pieces start at a minimum of Rs.9 lakh

Who: Hidemasa FUJII at Tamura Akio GalleryWhy: A fairly young installation artist, Fujii's work plays on illusions and display with LEDs and the quirkiest of materials. At this summit, his work includes installation pieces, made of cello tape and LED lights, creating an illusion of finely sculpted fibreglass. A graduate of the Kyoto University of Art, Fujii's work are quite affordable, starting at Rs.25,000

Who: Shirazeh Houshiary at Lisson Gallery Why: A contemporary of the likes of Anish Kapoor, Shirazeh is an equally celebrated Iranian visual artist and sculptor. Her pieces include paintings that show her interest in Sufism and in the works of the 13th Century mystic poet Jalal al-Din Rumi. Prices for her artworks are available on request

Who: Parul Thacker at Galerie Mirchandani+SteinrueckeWhy: One of the foremost contemporary Indian artists, Parul's work looks into the minuscule patterns that exist in nature. Her 3D filigree works resemble decadent webs, which mix technology and nature harmoniously, yet keeps their contrast clearly visible. Again, a popular artist amongst collectors, her works start anywhere between Rs.5-9 lakh